02 Current Provision and Review of Tap 2019-2024
An overview of each type of accommodation provided by or with the assistance of the Council. An estimate of the number of families accommodated and details regarding each type of accommodation provided by the Council.
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02.1 Overview of Current Provision Cork City Council’s Traveller Accommodation Unit (TAU) has responsibility for liaising with, and providing accommodation support services to, the Traveller Community in Cork City. The TAU currently has a staff of 6 personnel including an Administrative Officer, Traveller Liaison Officer (TLO), Traveller Engagement Officer, an Assistant Staff Officer and two Clerical Officers who work and engage directly with the Traveller Community. The TAU responds to the daily and ongoing accommodation needs of the Traveller Community. The TAU has dedicated clinics to address Traveller accommodation needs and the TLO alone has dealt with over 6,000 engagements/contacts to date (over an 18 month period) and conducted 50 site visits in that period. In line with the TAU’s commitment to meaningful engagement, the TLO has developed two key initiatives over the past 12 months: the Traveller Participation and Engagement Initiative and the Child and Youth Participation Initiative. Details of both of these initiatives are provided in Appendix A. The unit is supported in its work by the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (LTACC) whose members are drawn from housing officials, public representatives and representatives of the Traveller community. A dedicated Traveller Liaison Officer and Traveller Engagement Officer work with Cork City Council and support Travellers seeking accommodation as required. As outlined in Section 1, Cork City Council provides a range of housing options for members of the Traveller Community. In the 2022 Annual Traveller Count, it is estimated that there were 1,442 Travellers living within Cork City. This section of the TAP will provide:
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Standard Social Housing Cork City Council owns properties in housing estates and apartment blocks across the city. Available properties are listed on the Council's Choice Based Letting (CBL) system, where housing applicants can express interest in available units. The Council also operates a dedicated public counter to assist applicants with the CBL system, particularly those who may face difficulties accessing it. A staff member is available to help applicants log in and submit expressions of interest. This service is available from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. A dedicated Traveller Liaison Officer and Traveller Engagement Officer work with Cork City Council and supports Travellers with CBL applications as required. Private Rented Housing There are two types of supports available to eligible members of the public in the private rental market, which includes the Traveller Community. These options are listed below. Again, a dedicated Traveller Liaison Officer works with Cork City Council and supports Travellers with CBL applications as required. Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS): The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a social housing initiative designed to address the housing needs of individuals and families receiving long-term rent supplement. To qualify, applicants typically must have been on rent supplement for at least 18 months and be assessed as having a long-
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Cork City Council | Traveller Accommodation Programme 2025-2029
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